Hand-operated tile-press.



H. D. LILUBRIDGE.

HAND OPERATED TILE PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28; 1913- 1,238,41 5. Patented Aug. 28, 191].

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HAND OPERATED TILE PRESS. APPLICATION met) JULY 28, 1913.

1,238, 11 5. Patented Aug. 28, 1917.

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amen boz- H. D. LILLIBRIDGE. HAND OPERATED TILE PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28, I913. 1,238,415.

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HARRY D. LILLIBRIDGE, OF ZANESVILLE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN ENCAUSTIC TILIN G COMPANY, LTD., OF NET/V YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

HAND-OPERATED TILE-PRESS.

Application filed July 28, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, T-TARRY D.L1LLIBR1DGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Zanesville, county of Muslringum, and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Hand-Operated Tile-Press, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a hand-operated press, the same being especially useful in securing the pressure on clay material required in the manufacture of clay tiles, although the press may be used for other purposes.

Among the objects of the invention are, first, to effect the easy and rapid charging of the die with the clay material, and the removal from the die of the compressed material, all without substantial interference from the upper plunger and other overhead parts of the press; second, to position the hand-operated means for imparting movement to an upper plunger within convenient reach of the workman; third, to secure a double blow by the upper plunger upon the material in the die, the second part of each blow taking place without involving any displacement of the plunger in contact with the material in the die; to relieve the parts of the main table from strain during the operation of compressing the material; and to improve the machine generally so as to minimize the friction and wear, secure a strong and rigid structure, enable dies of various sizes to be used on the one machine, and provide for easy accessibility to the various parts.

One feature of the invention is a die carrying table connected to the press for swinging movement in a horizontal plane, whereby the table and the die thereon may be positioned out of alinement vertically with the upper plunger for the purpose of charging the die with material prior to the compressing operation or the compressed material may be removed from said die. The table swings easily'into and out of posi tion, and it is retained by a latch in fixed relation to the path of the upper die.

Vith said table cooperates a lower plunger intended mainly for ejecting the compressed material from the die. This plunger is movable to different positions by a cooperating adjusting sleeve and nut, and said plunger is raised or lowered by the movement of a lever and operating means, the

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 28, 191 '7.

Serial N 781,502.

same partaking of the swinging movement of the table so as to be at all times inoperative relation to the lower plunger. During the compression of the material, this lower plunger is seated upon the solid base part of the press, thus relieving the table and plunger from undue strain.

Another part of the invention is an upper plunger, a screw for imparting movement thereto and hand-operated means for retating the screw. Said upper plunger and screw are connected by a slip joint so as to permit a limited relative movement between them, so that the double blow may be given to the material by the upper plunger. The operating means is, preferably, embodied in a cross bar provided with adjustable handles, and this cross bar is attached by an adjustable connection with the screw, whereby the hand-operated means maybe adjusted to suit the convenience of the workman.

Other features of the invention and the ar ilvantages thereof will appear from the following detailed description. I

In, the drawings,

Figure l is a side elevation of a handoperated tile press embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevation looking toward the right in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan viewshowing the parts in position for operation.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line ll of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the'line 55 of Fig. 1 showing the die carrying table swung to a position out of vertical alinement with the upper plunger.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the die carrying table equipped with the ejecting plunger and the operating and adjusting means therefor.

Fig. 7 is a detail plan view illustrating the guide for the upper plunger.

The framework of the press may be of any suitable form, but it is shown in'the drawings as consisting of substantial base members A, upright columns A, a foot member A and an upper cross member A The columns A are bolted solidly to the base members. The upper ends of said columns are externally threaded. for the reception of nuts-a which operate to clamp the upper cross member A solidly to said columns, whereby the upper cross member is rigidly attached to the columns. although the nuts and threaded end port-ions enable said upper cross member to be raised or lowered as desired. The foot piece A is positioned between base members A and is bolted or otherwise solidly fastened thereto. It will be noted that all the parts of the frame are strong in construction and united solidly together, thereby producing a rigid structure. As shown, the transverse footpiece A is provided in its upper face with recesses a (4 the recess (A being of less width than the recess ct so as to result in a bearing shoulder a", the purpose of which will hereinafter appear.

B designates a table adapted to carry or support a die (not shown) wherein the material is deposited so as to be subjected to pressure and result in a green tile or other article. The table is of substantial construction in order to withstand the ef-v fect of the pressure, and said table is provided with an opening Z) with which is adapted to register an open bottom portion of the die, or said die may'fit into said opening 5 of the table, whereby the headed portion of a lower ejecting plunger is adapted to work within the die for the purpose of discharging the compressed material therefrom, as will hereinafter more fully appear. The table is formed at one end with a substantial sleeve C, the latter being mounted for rotative movement on one of the columns A of the press frame, whereby said table is adapted to be swung outwardly to the full line position of Fig. 5, or the table may occupy the normal operative position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, and in full lines in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive. Said pivotal sleeve C is supported at its lower portion upon a stop collar or other bearing 0, and to insure freedom in the movement of the table and the rotative sleeve it is preferred to employ ball or roller bearings. As shown, roller bearings c are provided intermediate the sleeve and the column, whereas ball bearings 0 are positioned intermediate the lower end of the sleeve and the collar or shoulder 0. Obviously, these ball bearings and roller bearings may be of any preferred form. The free end portion of the swinging table is curved at (Z, see Fig. 5, in order that said table may have the necessary clearance with respect to one column of the press frame, and said free end of the table is formed or provided with a short arm (Z terminating in a handle D. Said short arm carries a latch, shown in Fig. 5 as a sliding bolt 6 positioned for movement within a guide 0 and adapted to be operated by a latch lever E. When the table is moved to its operative position the latch-bolt is engaged automatically with a keeper E attached to one of the columns A, and thus the latch operates to rigidly lock the table in the operative position.

The table is provided with a depending web ,7 joined to the sleeve C, and depending from this table are brackets f, the lower ends of which are fastened in any suitable way to a vertically positioned barrel F, said barrel depending below the table and united rigidly thereto so as to partake of the swingmovement of said table. As shown more particularly in Fig. 6, the barrel is hollow so as to provide a vertical chamber 7, the upper part of which is enlarged, thus re sulting in a shoulder 9 intermediate the enlarged and reduced parts of said chamber. The enlarged upper portion of the barrel is interiorly threaded at g, and within said threaded part of the barrel is screwed a plunger adjusting sleeve Gr, the upper end of which is provided with a hand wheel 9 whereby the sleeve may be rotated within the barrel. for the purpose of elevating or lowering the ejector plunger H. Said plunger is shown as a cylindrical stem, the lower part of which is reduced in diameter, and the upper part of which stem is provided with a head H, the latter forming an eject ing element. and a compressing element adapted to operate within the die to be carried by table B. The upper enlarged part of plunger H is fitted loosely in the adjustable threaded sleeve G, whereas the lower part of said plunger passes downwardly through the chamber f of the barrel. The plunger is thus supported in the barrel and the sleeve for reciprocating movement therein, although said plunger is adapted to partake of the movement of the barrel with the swinging table when the latter is moved into and out of operative position. For the purpose of imparting reciprocating movement to the plunger and its head H, means are provided for operation by hand, said oprating n'xeans bein mounted on parts connected with the table for the purpose of retaining the plunger operating means in op erative relation to the plunger and to the table irrespective of the position which said table may occupy to the press. Said opmeans is embodied in a rock shaft 1 arranged horizontally across the lower part of the press, one end portion of said rock shaft being mounted in a bearing 2' provided exteriorly on barrel F, whereas the other end portion of said rock shaft is journaled in a bearing i" provided at the lower end of a hanger i exteriorly to sleeve 0, see Fig. 1. The rock shaft is provided at one end with an upstanding hand lever I adapted to lie alongside of one column A of the press frame, and secured rigidly to this rock shaft in any suitable way is a gear 1 the latter meshing with a rack l which is secured rigidly to the lower reduced part of plunger H. Said rack I extends lengthwise of the plunger for a suitable distance, and with the rack meshes the gear of the rock shaft, a part of the barrel F being cut away on one side thereof at 2' From the foregoing description it is apparent that the barrel is attached to the swinging table to partake of the movement thereof; that the plunger is mounted in the barrel so that it, also, will partake of-the movement of the table, although said plunger is capable of an independent reciprocating movement in a vertical direction, and that the operating means for said plunger are mounted on parts connected with the table, whereby said plunger operating means will also partake of the swinging movement of the table. Furthermore, it is evident that the lever I may be operated at any time for the purpose of raising the plunger within the barrel in order that the head H of the plunger will be forced upwardly into the die so as to eject the compressed material therefrom, said lever I being operable, also, to lower the plunger and the ejecting element to a normal position.

The lower end of barrel F fits within the recess a of footpiece A forming a part of the press frame when the table occupies a normal position below the upper compression plunger, whereas the lower extremity of plunger H is adapted to enter the recess a of said footpiece A The recesses a a of the footpiece open through one face thereof for the purpose of permitting the barrel and the plunger to enter or leave the recesses according to the direction in which the table B is moved, and in this connection it should bestated that the recessed footpiece and the barrel are so related to each other that when the table, the barrel and the plunger are in their operative positions the lower end of the barrel rests upon the shoulder a of said footpiece, whereby the strain of the barrel is taken up byv the footpiece during the operation of compressing the material within the die.

The die carrying table is provided with a die plate J, the same being positioned above the table and parallel thereto. This die plate is provided with a central opening j of somewhat larger size than the opening 6 of the table, and said die plate is secured adjustably to the table by means of screws j, the latter being attached to the table for rotative movement and threaded into sleeves y' which depend from the die plate. The screws may be rotated for the purpose of raising or lowering the die plate relative to the table, and thus the die plate may be brought closer to, or position ed farther away from, the top of the die. This die plate is adapted to support a cer tain quantity of clay material in a position close to the die so that the operatormay scrape the surplus material into the die in the operation of striking the latter, or some of the material may be removed from the die and deposited upon the die plate.

The upper cross member is, provided with a central opening within which is fitted a bushing K, the latter being interiorly screw threaded, as shown in Fig. l. Said bushing is provided at its lower end. with a flange iv fitting against the under face of the cross member A and this bushing is retained in a fixed position relative to the cross member A by suitable means.

L designates a compression screw which engages with the female thread of bushing K, said screw passing through and working into the bushing, which thus acts as a nut for the screw. The lower part of the compression screw is provided with a smooth member Z and with a foot flange Z, the dio ameter of said foot flange being somewhat greater than the diameter of the smooth member Z. Said screw is connected opera.- tively with the upper plunger M which is fitted slidably in a crosshead N, the latter being positioned intermediate the die carrying table and the upper cross member of the press frame. Said crosshead is provided at its end portions with collars n which are fitted on the press columns A and are clamped rigidly thereto, as shown in Fig. 7, for the purpose of retaining the crosshead in a fixed relation to the press frame, the die table, and the plunger M. This crosshead is provided intermediate its ends with an enlarged guide box 0, preferably square in shape, as shown in Fig. 7, and within this guide box are wear plates or shoes 0 which conform to the exterior shape of the upper plunger and to' the internal shape of the guide box. These shoes are composed of steel or other hard material so as to take up the friction and wear on the upper. plunger, and said shoes are read ily removable from the crosshead and the plunger so that they may be renewed when worn to a substantial extent.

'Plunger M is substantially square in cross section and fits snugly within the shoes of the guide box on the. crosshead, said parts acting to limit the plunger to a vertical movement and in a predetermined path with respect to the die adapted to be carried by table B. The plunger is fitted for sliding movement within the guide box, and the lower part of the plunger is flanged at m to receive the tile die. In the upper part of the plunger is provided a recess m and to the top of the plunger is secured a cap plate MP. The foot flange Z of the compression screw works loosely within the recess m .of the plunger, whereas the cylindrical part Z of the screw passes loosely through a central opening provided in the cap plate m whereby the plunger and the compression screw are loosely connected together by a slip joint which permits a limited relative movement between said plunger and the screw. The screw is adapted to be rotated for the purpose of imparting vertical movement to the plunger, and when the screw is turned in a downward direction the plunger is lowered into the die and in contact with the material therein, whereby a certain amount of pressure is exerted upon the material due to the weight of the plunger. At this time the foot flange of the screw is in contact with the cap plate of said plunger and on the continued rotation of the screw the latter acts upon a wear plate positioned upon the bottom of recess 7%, whereby the continued downward movement of the screw after the plunger is in contact with'the material in the die imparts a second blow to the plunger so that the latter is forced by a double blow upon the material in order to. compact said material by the operation of the plunger and screw.

The upper part of the screw carries a collar [1 provided with a head P, the latter being provided with a central stud p and upon the head rests the operating lever Q, the latter extending crosswise of the press at the upper part thereof. This operating lever is provided with an aperture which receives the central stud p and said operating lever is adapted to be fastened rigidly to the head of the screw by bolts see Fig. 3. It is evident that the bolts 9 may be removed so as to allow lever Q, to be shifted in one direction or the other, forthe purpose of bringing the operating lever in a position convenient to the workman, after which the bolts should be replaced so as to rigidly fasten the lever to the screw. The operating lever is provided at its ends with collars r in which are fitted the upper ends of handles R, the latter being slidable in the collars so as to adjust the handles to a height suitable for the workmen, after which the handles should be made fast with the lever by tightening the binding screws 7'. It will be noted that the lever extends crosswise of the press, and that the handles are provided at each end of the lever so as to be within convenient reach of the workmen, whereby the lever and the handles are adapted to be adjusted in the manner described so as to suit the convenience of said workmen.

The operating lever is provided near its end portions with upstanding pins S on each of which is fitted one or more weights 8 adapted to impart momentum to the lever Q when it is forcibly thrust in one direction or the other by the workmen for the purpose of imparting movement at such a speed to the screw L as to exert a forcible blow upon the plunger M when the latter is in contact with the material in the die.

- Means are provided for locking the screw and plunger when the latter is in either a raised or lowered position, whereby the plunger when elevated is precluded from descending by its weight, and when lowered said plunger is retained in contact with the material. Said means consists of a friction block T composed of hard vegetable fiber or other material. This friction block occupies a recess 25 provided in one side of bushing K, and with said bloc-k engages a clamping screw T, the latter being screwed into a threaded sleeve t secured in the crosshead of the press frame. After the compression screw L has been turned the required distance to press the plunger upon the material, the clamping screw T is operated to press the friction block T into engagement with the threads of the compression screw L, whereby the screw and plunger are retained to hold the material under compression for a desired length of time.

The operation is as follows :-With the plunger in a raised position the operator grasps handle D and releases the latch from the keeper, whereupon pressure is applied to the handle to swing the table outwardly to the full line position of Fig. 5, the sleeve C of said table turning freely around column A. The die on the table is now in position where the operator can easily place the material therein, and if necessary some of the material can be removed from the die plate J and deposited in the die. The die having been charged, the table is swung to its normal position and fastened by the latch, after which the operator grasps one of the handles R and by a quick movement swings the lever Q, the weight .9 of which imparts momentum to said lever. The screw is thus turned in a direction to lower the plunger M through the guide in the crosshead, and thus bring the flanged end on of said plunger into contact with the material in the die. The weight and downward impulse thus given to the plunger brings it into contact forcibly with the material in the die, and thereafter the continued rotation of the screw L brings the foot flange Z thereof into forcible contact with the wear plate m of said plunger, the result of which is that the plunger acts with a double blow upon the material in the die. If necessary, the lever Q, is operated to forcibly depress the screw and plunger in order to secure the requisite pressure upon the material, and then the clamping screw T is operated ina direction to force the friction block tightly against the com pression screw, thereby retaining the plunger in forcible contact with the material. For removing the compressed tile or other work from the machine, the clamping screw T is released and the lever arm Q is turned in a direction to rotate screw L so as to elevate plunger M, after which clamping screw T is set so as to keep plunger and screw from descending. The latch vE is now released and table B is swung outwardly, after which the operator pulls on the lever I so as to rotate the rock shaft and the gear thereon, whereupon the gear lifts the rack I and the plunger H so that the member H of said plunger will pass upwardly through the die for the purpose of ejecting the compressed material therefrom. The operations of depositing material within the die, and of removing the compressed material from said die are performed while the table occupies a position out of alinement vertically with plunger M.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a press of the class described, the combination with die-supporting means, of a compression plunger, an operating screw therefor, and means for slidably connecting the plunger and the screw to secure a limited movement between the same.

2. In a press of the class described, the combination with die-supporting means, of a compression plunger, an operating screw having a slip joint connection with said plunger, and a manually operated member attached to the screw for imparting rotative movement thereto.

3. In a press of the class described, the combination with die-supporting means, of a compression plunger, an operating screw having a slip joint connection with said plunger, and a weighted operating member attached to said screw, said operating member having means whereby a quick throw may be given thereto the momentum of which is increased by the weight carried by said member.

4. In a press of the class described, the combination with die-supporting means, of a compression plunger, an operating screw having a slip joint connection with said plunger, an operating member provided with handles and attached to the screw for imparting rotative movement thereto, and means on said member for retaining removable weights in position thereon.

5. In a press of the class described, the combination with a press-frame having an upper crosshead, a second crosshead fixed in the press-frame below said upper crosshead, and die-supporting means, of a com pression plunger angular in cross section, a guide box carried by the second crosshead and slidably receiving the angular plunger for limiting'the latter to slidable movement, a rotative screw having a swiveled connection with said plunger, and ahand-operated member attached to said screw.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY D. LILLIBRIDGE.

I/Vitnesses:

ARTHUR J. PRESTON, C. W. SMITHY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

